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What to Pack for a Tropical Surf Trip!

You have picked your destination, chosen your trip, have been mind-surfing epic surf and now you’re getting ready for heading to the tropics!

Nothing is worse than arriving and realising you have left something important at home (trust us, we have forgotten too many essentials before!). Whether you are heading to Indonesia, the Maldives, Fiji, or anywhere else in the tropics, this list of what to pack for your surf trip has got you covered!

If you haven’t already booked your trip, you can see our full range of destinations here! If you want to discuss any trip with one of our team, just send us a message!

What to Pack for a Tropical Surf Trip

When packing for a surf trip in the tropics, it is good to think of the waves that you are going to surf and plan accordingly. These are likely very different from what you get to surf in your home country, so bear this in mind when selecting boards etc. If you are looking to push yourself, then a step-up, with a bit more volume is a good choice to bring.

For more mellow waves, a fish or a funboard can be a great choice and we would always recommend you bring your day-to-day board as well. If you have any questions about suitable boards, just ask any of our team and we will be able to help!

Generally, a lot of the surf in the tropics is in more remote regions, so we always recommend that you assume that there will not be a surf shop to purchase spares from and to bring enough of everything with you. This saves you missing sessions if you snap a leash at a remote reef pass!

We would recommend all travelers bring the following:

  • Surf Boards – The most important piece of equipment for your trip! Generally, we recommend bringing 2-3 boards to suit different conditions and waves. Just ask one of our team if you want any advice on what boards to bring, we love to chat about all things surf!
  • Fins – Your usual fins plus a spare set and fin key.
  • Leashes – 2 – 3 leashes in case any break. We recommend thicker leashes as you may be surfing heavier/more powerful waves than at home!
  • Wax – Tropical wax and lots of it!
  • Zinc and Sunscreen – Having a quality sunblock and zinc will maximise your tie in the surf and minimise the time spent looking like a lobster!
  • Rash Guard or T-Shirts – It is great to surf without a top or in a bikini but we recommend having something to cover your skin in the middle of the day.
  • Clothes – Bring what you feel comfortable in and we recommend some long sleeve shirts for the evenings.
  • Books or Kindle – Great to enjoy when there is some downtime.
  • Portable Speaker
  • Ding Repair Kit – A Solarez quick ding repair kit is great for getting you back in the water quickly if you damage your board. We really like the Solarez kits here.
  • Any special snacks that you like to have.
  • Basic First Aid Kit – Having a small first aid kit to deal with small cuts and scrapes is invaluable when in more remote areas.
  • Reef Booties – If you want to protect your feet from coral then reef boots are great!
  • Travel Documents and Passport – Make sure that all documents are correct and up-to-date.
  • Travel Insurance – This is a must-have! Please make sure to have a copy of it with you and all emergency numbers saved in your phone!

Once you have ticked off everything on the list above, you should be ready to go. Being properly prepared for your surf trip will mean you can make the most of your time there with as little hassle as possible!

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Customer Reviews

AWAVE Travel

Customer Reviews

Omar AlJammaz 03/07/23

TrustPilot
Great travel options, great customer support, simplifying planing process.
Looking forward for my next trip.

Nina Ross 03/08/23

TrustPilot
Awesome holiday to Hudhuranfushi. Giulia was very helpful and quick to respond and overall we were very impressed with Awave Travel.
Lohi's is a private, on site, awesome left hander that just kept giving. Also had options of 2 daily surf boat trips that went to other local breaks such as Sultans, Ninja's, Cokes, Jails. The surf team are amazing and we scored great waves the whole time we were there.
Stayed in a Sunset family beach villa which was perfect for a family of 4, then upgraded for the last 3 nights to Ocean Villas, both great for different reasons!
Island staff are so helpful and welcoming, and there's a good variety of food options available. Lots of other things to do such as paddleboarding, jet ski-ing, spa treatments, yoga and amazing snorkelling - with sharks, turtles and rays! We also hired bikes to get around and do morning surf checks!
An amazing trip, thank you Awave and Hudhuranfushi!

Seb Speck 25/06/23

TrustPilot
We had an amazing time on the Mentawai islands booked through Awave Travel.
Giulia was very helpful and available at all times during the booking process. And we had the best time on the Mentawais on the Maki Boat. The staff were amazing. Raul the surf guide was very helpful, friendly and coached us on the waves. Kaique the photographer produced top quality pictures and videos from the water, boat and drone.
Overall very happy and would highly recommend it.

Tom Ward 18/06/23

TrustPilot
We charted Seafarer for a 10 day trip in the Maldives. We booked with AWAVE about 12 months before. James was super helpful, really responsive and just easy to deal with. We even made a very last minute change to go to the central atolls which he arranged pretty much straight away. The trip itself was unreal, great surf, amazing wildlife and scenery. If you’re thinking about a surf charter, do it and book through these guys!

Natasha Gronski 06/08/23

TrustPilot
Awave Travel is the best surf travel agency I have ever booked! They are very professional and responsive to my inquiries and are able to match me with a surf trip appropriate to my interests and skill level. They have an outstanding relationship and reputation with the resorts that they work with, which makes a difference in the consumer experience. Above all, the Awave staff is very friendly and knowledgeable about the areas they recommend, as they have actually surfed the spots and stayed at the resorts. For anyone who wants a hassle-free, no worries, relaxing and fun surf adventure, Awave Travel is the way to go!

David 05/29/23

TrustPilot
8 of us stayed at Hudhuranfushi for my 50th birthday celebration. The resort and services were amazing. James and the team at AWAVE stayed in contact from the beginning to end to ensure we had everything we needed. Great experience. Definitely looking forward to booking our next trip with AWAVE in the near future.

Alexandra Franz 05/31/23

TrustPilot
We spent amazing days in Morocco in Amouage. Was an amazing stay and the full surf package offered by AWAVE was great.
All the people were very nice and coaches were amazing. Booking was very smooth, answered all my questions and they took care of everything.
I took the coaching package and had a great time and learning. The teacher was great, very patient and explained everything very nice and calm. Felt safe all the time and had a lot of fun as well.
My boyfriend had the guiding package and he also had a great time. He was always taken to the spots that fitted his level and enjoyed the full when conditions were nice.

Alex Reuter 05/22/23

TrustPilot
We stayed at Ayada in Maldives and I can't be more complimentary of AWAVE! Awesome and patient advise over whatsapp on which resort to go to with extremely details local knowledge on surf conditions, wave spots, resort quality, which atolls to go to, etc. I followed their recommendation and it was spot on. Easy booking on short notice before the trip, can't thank James enough!

Stewart Cropp 05/19/23

TrustPilot
Our remarkable trip was 12 months in the planning.it was awkward to organize because there was so many people coming and going over our two week chartered cruise.
I can’t speak highly enough of AWAVE and more to the point ,the wonderful Giulia Manfrini. She is so caring and sweet and far above and beyond any travel consultant that I have ever worked with
Thankyou Giulia for all your prompt answers to my gazillion questions
You are “Simply the best”.
Now onto the Carpe Diem
The trip of a lifetime was had by all 20 of us
The Captain and crew worked tirelessly to pander to our every whim
They would not allow us to lift a finger
Our Barmen Shawn and Cook ( still can’t pronounce his name ) were superb, the food was first class and varied and the alcohol flowed like a river
Our Surf guide “Seppe” found waves for us every day except for two while we travelled deep into the central Attols
We were greatful for the rest
We snorkeled with the sharks and visited uninhabited Islands spent an afternoon being spoiled at a high class resort .
All in all an Awsome trip

Diane 05/11/23

TrustPilot
James helped us organize our trip in April for my partner and I in the Mentawai.
First, lets discuss the service : James was super clear and reactive. We received a list of resorts with different price ranges and he provided all the elements for us to decide based on our needs and budget. We felt very supported for the organization and we even received so advices few days before leaving for packing.
I was a bit afraid as i'm not a good surfer so i reach out many times to understand how I could still try and learn and James always replied very quick and with all the info i need.
Then when we arrive : it was super well organized, everything went smooth and we fell in love with the place and people. We can tell they really worked on their resort selection and travel organization and we trust our next adventure will be as qualitative.
Already recommended their service ;).
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